Our customer says it cannot add us to its CDP request without a DUNS number. What do we do?

Find yours, or apply for one. CDP needs a valid DUNS number for every company on a customer's request list. Search Dun & Bradstreet's lookup tool first; if you are not listed, apply online with your legal name, address, phone, business structure, industry and staff count. Standard processing is free and may take up to 30 business days.

Why your customer is stuck

A DUNS number is a nine-digit identifier Dun & Bradstreet assigns to businesses. CDP uses it to tell legal entities apart and avoid duplicates. A customer cannot submit its request list to CDP while any company on it is missing a valid DUNS number.

Getting the number

1. Check Dun & Bradstreet's lookup tool. Your company may already have a number without knowing it.
2. If not, select your region on Dun & Bradstreet's portal and start an online application.
3. Give your legal name, physical address, contact phone, business structure, industry and number of employees.
4. Wait for verification. Dun & Bradstreet may contact you to confirm details.
5. The number arrives by email once approved. A paid expedited service cuts the wait to about eight business days.

Make sure the customer picks the right entity

• Send the customer your DUNS number with your registered legal name and head office address, exactly as registered.
• Several companies with similar names can match a search. CDP tells customers to compare name, country and address.
• If you belong to a group, the customer may request the parent instead, shown as the 'Ultimate Parent' in the lookup.
• If your number is already attached to another record in CDP, the customer can search CDP by DUNS number to find it.

Example: how long it can take

• Standard: up to 30 business days, about six weeks with weekends
• Expedited (paid): about 8 business days
• Then your customer adds you and submits its request list

Apply the day the customer asks, and tell the customer the expected date.

What Senseible does here

Senseible does not issue DUNS numbers. Once the request arrives, it prepares the Scope 1 and 2 figures for your CDP response from your fuel invoices and electricity bills.

• Supplier evidence for buyers
• What to do with a CDP supply chain request
• CDP SME or full questionnaire

Sources: CDP Help Center, KA-01009: Resolving issues with DUNS numbers

Last reviewed 2026-11-03. Check Dun & Bradstreet's current processing times in the CDP article.